Christmas in a Box: A No-Excuses Holiday Decorating Guide

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What if all you needed to celebrate could fit in just one box?

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Holiday decorating: to-do-list task, or bucket-list dream? For those short on cash or square footage, the latter can ring truer than those all-too-absent jingle bells. But really, all it takes to celebrate could fit in just one box. A spool of red ribbon, a string of lights, a frosted vase or hurricane glass, assorted card stock and envelopes, a bag of chips, a bottle of wine, brown-paper lunch sacks, and fishing wire are all you’ll need to create your own holiday wonderland. Oh, and some toilet paper -- but you’re buying that anyway, right?

You’ll also need something to write with, something to cut with and something to hold it all together (craft, stick, or hot glue will do). Some projects use household tools such as lighters or cake pans. We’ve deemed those seasonless. Put 'em on the to-do.

Despite being the season’s most iconic display, every Christmas tree has a low-hanging branch. Put on your sweetest smile and ask a local tree farm for voluminous stray boughs, or snap up a miniature tree from a home-goods store. Then get ready to tie your way to tabletop cheer with bits of ribbon left over from gift wrapping.

White lights halfheartedly strung from the rafters can feel a bit dorm-room chic, but a twinkling vase or hurricane is, well, just chic. With a project this simple, you can afford to display them in threes.

Okay, okay -- the snow won’t fit in your box of decorating supplies. But should you be lucky enough to live where the weather cooperates, these lanterns don’t require much more. Simply pack into pans, spray with water to set, and light from the inside. Then applaud yourself for not buying that giant inflatable Frosty.

Instead of buying expensive plastic lanterns, lower the cost and up the charm with a custom cutout rendition. You won’t want to leave them out in the elements, but come Christmas Eve, you’ll be the star of the block.

Sometimes, simplicity can be Advent-tageous. Cover office supplies with wrapping paper or printed number decals, and arrange them into a festive tree shape. At the end of the season, nest them matryoshka-style for easy storage.

Another idea: Use a wine cork to stamp out a snowflake design in paint or dark juice, or even the wine itself. You can also repurpose the ribbon that trimmed your tree -- simply wind it around a plainly wrapped gift for instant candy stripes.

If your gift-wrapping budget is truly petite (or your presents are anything but), hide them day-of for a scavenger hunt. Scribble your clues on scrap paper, and stash them in tiny boxes -- you can even fold the packages yourself.

No holiday dinner is complete without a Christmas cracker. These Yule log favor boxes are made from empty paper-towel or toilet-paper tubes. Forage the backyard for accoutrements, and fill them with holiday sweets. Feel that? Your heart just grew three sizes.